The world’s oldest woman turns 117: She’s only two months away from making history

Maria Branyas, who has been recognized as the oldest person living since January 2023, celebrated her 117th birthday on Monday.

Originally from San Fransisco, California, Branyas is of Catalan descent. Branyas is just two months away from becoming one of the oldest people in recorded history. She has been a resident of a care home in the Catalan town of Olot for over two decades. Her family describes her as someone who, despite experiencing a decline in her health since the summer, “doesn’t experience any pain or illnesses.”

Her daughter, Rosa Moret, told the Catalan News Agency (ACN) that her mother sees longevity records as “nonsense,” downplaying her age and the fact that she is the oldest person in the world today. Despite some health problems, such as loss of vision, hearing, and memory and the inability to walk without assistance, Maria Branyas retains her mental faculties and enjoys conversations with her family. Branyas posted on social media a profile adorned with balloons the morning of her birthday, a quote from author Pere Casaldàliga.

The Gerontological Research Group (GRG), which verifies longevity records, has confirmed that there are currently eleven individuals who have lived longer than Joan Branyas. All have passed since their age was verified by GRG.

On May 10, Branyas will move up the list of the oldest people in history, thereby inching closer to the top 10. The current record for longevity is held by Jeanne Calment, a Frenchwoman who lived to be 122 years and 164 days old before passing away in August 1997.

His story

Born in 1907 in San Francisco (United States), Branyas moved to Girona as a child due to her father’s economic difficulties. A journalist and writer from Pamplona, Branyas’s father has resided in Barcelona, Banyoles, Calonge, and Sant Antoni over the years, weaving a history rich in experiences.

In addition, since 2019, Branyas has maintained an active profile on the social network with more than 1,500 followers, she shared anecdotes, reflections and today, on her 117th birthday. On her special day, her profile was adorned with balloons and a short morning message, accompanied by an inspiring quote from Pere Casaldàliga, opening the message with “Good morning, World. Today I turned 117 years old.”

In 1931, she married the doctor Joan Moret, with whom she had three children. Her descendants include eleven grandchildren, one of whom is over 60 years old, and thirteen great-grandchildren, all of whom celebrate this historic milestone with her.